Cradle



Patented Dec. 20, I898. W. G. PATYTON.

CRADLE.

(No Model.)

5 nvauto'o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM G. PATTON, OF FLAT LICK, KENTUCKY.

CRADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,351, dated December 20, 1898.-

Applioation filed January 31, 1898. Serial No. 668,601. (No model.)

To whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. PATTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flat Lick, in the county of Knox and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cradles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

Myinvention has relation to cradles or beds; and among the objects in view is to provide a cradle or bed which may be readily folded up into small compass when not in use and which is also of extremely simple and inexpensive construction.

'lhe invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cradle, showing the same set up ready for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the sections separated to adapt the cradle to be folded up.

1 indicates rockers of curved shape, as usual, and of which I show three, though a greater or less number could be used, if desired. Said rockers are joined together by longitudinal rods or slats 2, the number of which may be varied. The rockers are provided near opposite ends with openings 3, through which freely pass rods 4:, one end of said rods etproj ecting somewhat beyond one of the end rockers, as shown at 5.

(3 indicates vertically-arranged side pieces, of which I show one for each rocker, said pieces 6 being slightly curved inwardly at the lower ends, so as to correspond with the curvature of the ends of the rockers, adjacent to which ends the curved ends of pieces 6 are adapted to lie when the cradle is set up in the position seen in Fig. 1. The pieces 6 are joined together by longitudinal brace-rods 7 to strengthen the cradle. The rods 4 pass through and are securely fixed to the pieces 6, and thus it will be seen that by reason of the rods passing freely through the openings 3 of rockers 1 the latter and pieces 6 are adapted to be folded together, the rods 4 serving as pivots.

In order that the rocker-section formed by the rockers 1 and rods 2 and the side sections, each formed by the pieces 6 and braces 7, may be rigidly connected together for the purpose of using the cradle and preventing accidental folding of the parts, I provide simple means consisting of studs or pins 8, secured to the rockers 1, near the end and below the openings 3, which pins are adapted to project into openings 9 in the pieces 6, below the point where the rods 4 pass therethrough.

When the parts are in the position seen in Fig. 1, the pins 8 project into the openings 9, and thus lock the rocker-section and side sections together and prevent folding of these sections.

I preferably provide the cradle with end sections, as 11, which are hinged at one end, as at 12, to the pieces 6, so that when the cradle is to be folded said end sections may be swung inward against the side sections to permit this.

When the cradle is set up for use, the sections 11 are adapted to be held in the position indicated in the drawings by any suitable latch device, as 13, which may consist of a hook adapted to engage with a staple, as shown.

When the cradle is not in use and it is de* sired to fold the parts together, the side sections are moved longitudinally relatively to the rocker-sections until the pins 8 free the openings 9, as seen in Fig. 2, and the end sections unlatched from the side sections, after which the parts may be folded together.

To prevent accidental separation of the cradle-sections in the manner just described when the cradle is in use, I provide any suitable stop or catchm, for instance, a leafspring 10, secured at one end to a projecting end 5 of one of the rods 4, and the other end of which spring, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, bears against the outer face of the end rocker, and thus holds the rocker-section in place. By simply pressing the spring flat against the rod 4 the said spring will oifer no obstruction to the separation of the cradle-sections. If desired, the rod 4; may be recessed to receive the spring when pressed down to permit the longitudinal movement of the cradle-sections.

If desired, there may be a spring provided at the projecting end of the other rod 4 for a purpose similar to that of the spring already described.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cradle, the combination of a rockersection provided with openings, side sections also provided with openings, rods carried by the side sections and passing loosely through openings in the rocker-section whereby to pivotally connect the sections together, and pins-on the rocker-section removably engaging in the openings in the side sections and adapted to free said openings when the side sections are moved longitudinally relatively to the rocker-section. I

2. In a cradle,the combination with a rockersection provided with openings, side sections also provided with openings, rods carried by the side sections and passing loosely through the openings in the rocker-section whereby to pivotally connect the sections together, and pins on the rocker-section removably engaging in the openings in the side sections and adapted to free said openings when the side sections are moved longitudinally relatively to the rocker-section, of end sections hinged to the side sections and adapted to fold inward against the latter, as described.

3. In a cradle, the combination of a rockersection provided with openings, side sections also provided with openings, rods carried by the side sections and passing loosely through the openings in the rocker-section, pins carried by the rocker-section removably engaging in the openings in the side sections and adapted to free said openings when the side sections are moved longitudinally relatively to the rocker-section, and means for preventing accidental longitudinal movement of the side sections.

4. In a cradle, the combination of a rockersection consisting of rockers and longitudinal brace-rods joining the same, of side sections consisting of vertical pieces and longitudinal connecting braces or rods, pivotal rods extending longitudinally of the said vertical pieces and passing freely through the outer ends of the rockers, and pins carried by the rockers and removably engaging openings in the said vertical pieces.

5. In a cradle, the combination of a rockersection consist-ing of rockers and longitudinal brace-rods joining the same, ofside sections consisting of vertical pieces and longitudinal connecting braces or rods, pivotal rods extending longitudinally of the said vertical pieces and passing freely through the outer ends of the rockers, pins carried by the rockers and removably engaging openings in the said vertical pieces, and a stop operating to limit longitudinal movement of the rocker section or side sections relatively to each other when the cradle is in use and to permit such longitudinal movement when the sections are to be folded together, as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 20th day of January, 1898, in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM G. PATTON.

Witnesses A. O. VAUGHN, W. P. REEDER. 

